The Positive Impact of Early Nurturing

The architecture of a baby’s brain is built through responsive and interactive relationships with parents and caregivers. When babies are held, touched and spoken to, in a back and forth way, called “serve and return”, from early in life, this fundamentally and positively affects the connections in the baby’s brain and lasts a lifetime. Early relationships prepare a baby to grow to be able to learn, form relationships with others and respond to the world. The first two years of life are critically important.

Critical Periods in Brain Development

Neuroscience and epigenetics teach us that there are windows, called critical periods, in a child’s development when children’s brains are more receptive to experiences and when these take place at the right time, they positively affect the child’s wellbeing and health for the rest of their life.

There is still a message of hope for those who have not had the early nurturing they need. Neuroscience also teaches us that new neurons and new connections between neurons can develop later in childhood and into mid-life, so all is not lost. However, the key message is early nurturing lasts a lifetime.

Featuring:

Dr. Thomas Boyce

Tips for Healthy Social and Emotional Development

This trailer provides an overview of the key messages found in the full-length video “Emotional Safety”. Seven renowned specialists in early childhood share key messages about the importance of early nurture and what you can do to help your child grow to be socially and emotionally healthy.

Ensure Baby Feels Loved, Nurtured, Special, and Safe

Early childhood experts and authentic parents, from many walks of life, including an Indigenous elder, model ways to ensure your child feels emotional safe.

Developed with Vancouver Native Health Society

Special thanks to Nadine Gagné and Children of the Rainbow Drum Group for generously donating their music

 Featuring:

Dr. Evan Adams, Dr. Nils Bergman, Dr. Thomas Boyce, Dr. Adele Diamond, Dr. Andrew Macnab, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Dr. Janet Werker

Research Shows that it is Optimal to Place New Babies Skin-to-Skin with their Mother

Skin-to-skin babies are warmer and have higher blood sugar, they breathe better and are more awake and able to look at and connect with their mother.

A Newborn is Familiar with its Mother Before Birth and Feels Safest on Her Skin After Being Born

There are also other considerations for babies’ well-being. Babies need an attachment environment of people who will be constantly close to them for the first few years of their lives.  Compensating for a lack of a primary caregiver can be hard work, but does not doom the baby, as long as the right interventions take place, which might involve speech therapists or occupational therapists, depending on the need.

DISCLAIMER: Near the end, this video has a child sleeping on his father, on the couch and this is NOT safe. KidCareCanada does not advocate this practice.

Featuring:

Dr. Nils Bergman